Seniors and Aging – Bladder Control (Incontinence)

Incontinence or the inability to hold urine in the bladder, among elders, is a lot more common in the United States than previously known. According to a study conducted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics:

About 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men suffer from bladder incontinence

Elder incontinence is said to cost the United States economy over $10 billion per year

Cost of labor, laundry and supplies at healthcare centers that provide service to patients with incontinence disorders and related issues, are more than $3 billion

The causes for incontinence are quite varied depending on gender, age, medical history, profession, lifestyle, etc. Some of them are.

Urinary tract infections

Vaginal infection or irritation

Constipation

Certain medicines

Weak or overactive bladder muscles

Inflamed bladder wall

Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease

Diseases such as arthritis which makes it difficult to go to the bathroom in time

Pregnancy and childbirth

Menopause

Excessive consumption of caffeine (coffee and tea)

Drinking bouts and alcoholism

Not drinking enough water

Incontinence in men

Specific to men, the causes for incontinence are more varied, some of them being:

Disease in, or injury to, the genital region

Prostatitis or inflammation of the prostate gland

Damage to nerves or muscles in the kidney or pelvic region post-surgery

Diseases such as diabetes

Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease

Injuries to the spinal cord

Nervous disorders which can result in an overactive bladder

Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), a condition where the prostate gland grows with age

Accordingly, Incontinence has been classified under four significant types:

Stress incontinence: Any physical pressure exerted on the bladder during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects or even some types of falls or accidents can trigger incontinence. This is more common in middle-aged or younger women who are approaching menopause

Urge incontinence: For no reason, people feel a sudden urge to urinate and cannot hold it long enough to get to a restroom. This happens to people who have diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke or any form of sclerosis

Overflow incontinence: Whenever the bladder is full, a small amount of the urine tends to leak from the bladder. This is more common in men and is generally due to an enlarged prostate that is blocking the urethra. Sometimes, diabetes and spinal cord injury can also trigger this type of incontinence

Functional incontinence: Older people who are weak, infirm, suffer from arthritis or have recently been injured, need some time to get to the restroom. At times, they may not be able to hold the urine, in which case, a small amount of it leaks out

Remedies and Treatments

With modern day techniques and quantum leaps in medical technology, treatment for incontinence, has become quite sophisticated. The different types of treatment that are provided by healthcare centers are listed below:

Practical Management

Behavioral Therapy

Bladder Training

Pelvic Floor muscle exercises

Medications

Anticholinergic or antispasmodic drugs

Hormone replacement

Antibiotics

Muscle relaxing drugs for men

Medical devices inserted (for women)

Urethral inserts

Pessary used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence

Surgically implanted devices for men and women

Sling procedures

Collagen injections

Urinary sphincter

Sacral nerve stimulator

Several healthcare centers even offer counseling to overcome the emotional repercussions. Let not your incontinence disorder disrupt your life. Consult a good hospital or healthcare center and seek treatment and let incontinence no longer be a nightmare.

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Nexgen Home & Senior Care was established in 2002 to meet the increasing need for qualified caregivers and nurses in the Bay Area. For more than a decade, NexGen has been committed to assisting individuals, families, and Senior Living Communities in need of healthcare services.